Portsmouth shipyard (Kittery, Maine) & Conn Submarine Base to stay open [View All]

[papau]

http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BASE_CLOSINGS?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-08-24-12-53-33

Aug 24, 12:53 PM EDT

Panel Overrules Feds on New England Bases

By LIZ SIDOTI Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- Overruling the Pentagon on two of its biggest requests, a commission reviewing base closings voted to keep open a shipyard and a submarine base in New England that military planners wanted to shut down.

The panel also spared three other major facilities, in Texas, California and Louisiana, against the Pentagon's wishes.

But it was New England that got arguably the biggest victories of the day: the commission voted to save two of the Navy's oldest facilities - the Portsmouth shipyard at Kittery, Maine, and Submarine Base New London in Connecticut. Together, the bases are considered economic engines of their region and elected officials from Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut lobbied intently for months to save them.
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The commission did, however, decide to close Naval Air Station Brunswick in Maine, rather than drastically reduce forces there as the Pentagon wanted. Commissioners argued that savings could be realized more quickly if it was shut down altogether.
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